HarpNinja
2641 posts
Sep 06, 2012
6:45 AM
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The topic of Hohner GM, MB, and SP20 coverplates and the impact on tone has been discussed a lot. However, I am curious as to the perceived differences in the Seydel 1847, Noble, and Session. Any thoughts?
I am working on recording the same harp with three different coverplates to A/B. The trick right now is I don't have a great mic to use for something like this...just a cheap condenser that isn't working right and regular vocal/dynamic mics.
I am going to try and do the same thing Hohner too!
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Mike
VHT Special 6 Mods
Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas - When it needs to come from the soul...
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nacoran
6059 posts
Sep 06, 2012
10:11 AM
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Nice idea. I suspect cover plates effect the tone a lot more than combs. Are you looking at acoustic tone or sound input for something overdriven?
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Nate
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HarpNinja
2644 posts
Sep 06, 2012
10:38 AM
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Both...problem is always time in my world...I've tested the Hohner covers before and even recorded it, but it was an iPad mic and hard to hear the differences.
I was working on two Seydels in D - a Noble and a Favorite - and wondered if anyone had compared the cover types.
Obviously I have, but was curious as to what others think.
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Mike
VHT Special 6 Mods
Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas - When it needs to come from the soul...
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spackle20
30 posts
Sep 06, 2012
12:39 PM
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My Solist Pro does sound a little brighter than my Session Steel. I much prefer the Session plates (which are black btw) since they don't grab my mustache.
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nacoran
6063 posts
Sep 06, 2012
7:58 PM
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My only Seydel is my Blues Favorite LLF, so it's hard to compare it to my other harps. (My only other low harp is a regular LF MB with a Chris Reynolds comb). From a purely practical standpoint, the Seydel cover is a little frustrating. I love the feel of the long cover, but the support posts have a habit of sliding off the back of the harp and bending a bit. The covers are slightly bend up at the ends so when you screw it on it's really airtight. It's tight enough that I have to be careful not to cup it against my face too tightly or I get 9-10 draws on 1 blows.
My favorite harp cover for playing is actually some unstamped cheapo harp with insanely thin covers. It's sized like a Sp20, with the tight back cover, but the metal is so thin you feel the vibrations.
For a control, you might want to record both with the end vents on the MB's covered and uncovered. Piedmont covers dampen the sound a lot. They seem to be pretty closed back, but I think it's the plastic doing it. Just to see what happened I took some modeling clay I had laying handy and coated the inside cover of a Sp20 I had sitting open. It changed the tone a little, but I'm not sure how to describe it. It was much more subtle than I thought it would be. It's a pain to put it on and take it off and I don't have another one in the same key handy to compare it too. I bet it would cure reed rattle! (The harp I tried it on is only an A, so I have no reed rattle to start with).
Now, I think, I'm going to go brush my teeth and try to get the taste of clay out of my mouth!
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Nate
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ElkRiverHarmonicas
1287 posts
Sep 07, 2012
2:50 AM
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You will notice far less difference between those three Seydel covers than you did with the Hohner covers. All three of those Seydel covers are unvented.
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David
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At the time of his birth, it was widely accepted that no one man could play that much music so well or raise that much hell. He proved them all wrong.
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jim
1301 posts
Sep 07, 2012
7:08 AM
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Noble covers are vented
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PT
145 posts
Sep 07, 2012
11:23 AM
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I can say that the Session Steel (which I use on my 1847 Silvers) are not as loud or bright as the stock 1847 Cover. The noble which is side vented and matted seems to sound a tad louder than the 1847 classic or silver.
Just my opinion.
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"Life...10 Holes & 20 Reeds At A Time"
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